How to litter train your kitty, and not go potty over pussycats
Toilet training new cats and kittens is enough to make anyone go potty. Take the tears out of training, and use our top tips for independent toilet trips.
Bringing a new pet into the family can be a daunting task for anyone, especially when your new kitty needs a lot of training. Litter training your cat is one of the most important, and often most stressful, aspects of training your new bestie, so we're here to help your feline friend become a potty-trained pro.
Here's our top tips for toilet training cats of all kinds, to keep paws clean and kitties purring.
Find their purr-fect bathroom
Picking the right spot and litter tray can help your kitty enjoy, and remember, their very own bathroom. Therefore, finding a litter tray that works for both you and your pussycat pal can help this process go as smoothly as possible. Trays come in many different shapes and sizes, in both covered and uncovered variants. Some cats may find large and covered litter trays a tad daunting at first, so try a smaller uncovered tray if your kitty seems to be avoiding the bathroom. It can also help to keep your cats resources in a smaller area to start with, especially if you are training a kitten. Keep their bowls, bed, and litter tray in one room, or even in a small pen, to help them work through the basics when getting used to your home. In time, you can then move their litter tray to a spot that works for you and your home once they're trained.
Once you've found their ideal tray, it's time to find the purr-fect litter for both you and your feline friend.
Choose the right kind of litter
There are so many kinds of litter, for all different purposes and preferences. Most litters come down to your cat's personal choice, so if your kitty seems to be avoiding their litter box, try switching to a different litter, such as wood instead of clay. Cats will instinctively look for a clean place to go to the toilet, where they can dig and cover afterwards. As such, finding litter they like can help the toilet training process go swimmingly, as they will naturally want to use the toilet there. Some cats may also need certain kinds of litter for health reasons, so consult your vets and see if they have any suggestions for your kitties specific needs. We recommend trying a few different types to know which kinds you get on with as well, creating your cat's ultimate bathroom experience when toilet training.
Up next, we think your kitty deserves a tasty treat for doing so well.
Tasty rewards
After a long day of training, nothing goes down better than something yummy to eat. Make sure to reward your cat when they do a good job with a delicious treat or meal, so they know they're doing something right. We recommend giving your kitty a tasty treat straight after they go to the bathroom successfully, or when they make progress through their training. Use this in tandem with verbal praise so they really connect their good behaviour with the positive outcome. You can then slowly phase this out as they become fully toilet trained and old pro's. We recommend a treat of our yummy Salmon Traybake kibble, to really get them purring after every bathroom break. You can also treat them to a delicious Chicken Mousse meal afterwards, and they'll be a litter trained success before you know it.
Once you've got your bathroom routine in place, keep it running smoothly everyday.
Consistency is key
Repetition is the best way for cats and kittens to learn and understand new training. Keep their routine consistent, and their litter tray regularly cleaned to encourage them to use it. It shouldn't be long before your kitty is ready to go every day, and knows exactly what to do. Even if they're shyer or slower to grasp the process, stay patient and work with them at their pace. Cats that feel more comfortable around you and their environment will feel a lot calmer about going to the bathroom, and will likely have less accidents, so try your best to remain encouraging along every step of the process.
Even cats that have been toilet trained for years are likely to have accidents every now and again, so keep your cool and work through this together.
Accidents happen
As much as we'd love toilet training to be smooth sailing, chances are it might be a messy process before you achieve bathroom success. Your pet is also likely to feel just as bad for having an accident in the house as you do, so don't scold them for slipping up. The best thing to do is clean up the area, and continue your routine and behaviour as normal. If your kitty is consistently going in the house, try carrying them to their tray when they begin to squat or scrape, and try different litters, trays, and placements. Perhaps also reflect on stimulants or difficulties in their home or routine, as this could be causing them to go out of anxiety or stress.
Some cats may also have food sensitivities, and may be going to the bathroom around the house due to stomach upset and urgency. Our Tilly & Ted meals are designed with your pets health in mind, and are super tasty whilst being kind on tummies. We also offer many simple meals for more sensitive kitties, so every pet can enjoy their mealtime to the fullest. We recommend our Tuna with Salmon Mousse for a chicken-less meal, or our Chicken Chunks for an effortless delight.
If you want to find the purr-fect meal to reward your kittycat, check out our full range of cat food to find whisker licking goodness, for felines of every shape and size. From mousses, to pâtés, to broths, we guarantee your cat will be feeling paw-some and eating like royalty.
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